MAGIC/BIRD Reviews- Page 2

[mc1227]

Posted: 4/13/12 at 9:51pm

I think sports can be represented in theater and should not be dismissed because of a bad production. I'm not sure that Larry Bird ever had enough of a following outside of Boston to make him interesting. It's not enough to just be a great basketball player. In this scenario, Magic had a following not only for skills but he had personality and charisma. Add to that the shock of his HIV discovery. Bird did not have anything like that. Therefore, their relationship would not be interesting enough to create a show that could gather a following.

[plushed]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 3:32pm

This show really worked for me, and from reactions of some teary grown men around me, all lot of other people too. If you are expecting to see Cookie throw a vase at Magic's head in a profound discussion of HIV and betrayal, this is not the show for you. It doesn't happen. But it never promised that. However, it was a really fun and effective docu-bio. The tone of the show is set up from the very first moment when the cast is introduced as if it is a sports event, which is what this show is; not really a play, more of an event. It's entertaining, fluid, moves at a lightning pace and emotionally pays off at the end. If this gang can find their audience in the sports fans it targets, it'll be a hit. And I think they deserve it. I loved it. Updated On: 4/14/12 at 03:32 PM

[wonkit]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 5:58pm

The likelihood that sports fans will seek out their fix of a sports "event" in a Broadway theater seems slim, no?

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 6:28pm

Despite the bad experience with the two 50 year old female drunks, my 19 year old son, who is a sports fanatic (spectator not jock) loved learning about these two legendary figures. The clips, the voiceovers, everything was new to him. In the audience I saw groups of middle aged and young men, a rare occurrance. The audience was pretty packed last night. This is a sports events told on in a Broadway theater. If they can eek out sales for the next month, I think during the summer they will do fine with families and college kids.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/15/12 at 12:14am

"In the audience I saw groups of middle aged and young men, a rare occurrance."

There is nothing rare about that. Middle- aged men have been attending non sports-related shows for eons. And young men? You find/found them at Once, Spring Awakening, American Idiot, Book of Mormon-- wretched all, to be sure-- but still, there they go, and none of these has anything to do with sports.

[plushed]

Posted: 4/15/12 at 4:41am

So basically, AFTER EIGHT, all of these original shows: Morman, Once, Spring Awakening, Idiot... While imperfect, have been created by arguably some of the most original voices we have in contemporary musical theatre. And they are all, by your account, broadly dismissed as "wretched" and "to be sure" as if you had presented any doubt. You're a snarky troll with nothing to offer but vitriol and schadenfreude. Go away. You are not needed here.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/15/12 at 7:15am

"You're a snarky troll with nothing to offer but vitriol and schadenfreude."

Ridiculous. I loved Don't Dress for Dinner and said as much here. There are countless other examples as well.

Don't act like such an infant. Not everyone likes the same shows as you do, and those that don't can be very firm in their opinions. Accept that, and you'll be better off.

And another thing. Don't call people names. It makes you look bad.

Updated On: 4/15/12 at 07:15 AM

[Marianne2]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 12:56pm

I know I'm late to this thread, but I saw the show yesterday afternoon. Only because I got a free ticket. I know they were offering comps for Tuesday night and Wednesday as well.

I agree with the reviews here. I was hoping that I would like it better, but it was kind of a bore. There was no drama, which I thought there would be, given the subject. All I got out of it is that Larry Bird seems like a boring person and that Magic Johnson got the HIV virus. I did laugh a little bit at some of the jokes, but that was it. I don't see it lasting. I have no idea how much of yesterday's performance was papered, but the orchestra was not close to being full, and I don't know about the mezzanine or balcony.

[Tom5]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 11:58pm

I enjoyed Lombardi thanks to the cast and I believe it had a successful run. I also knew a little about Vince Lombardi and was interested in a character study that might show more and which this play happily delivered. But basketball and Broadway really have nothing in common except for the astonomical ticket prices.